A7: Understanding the appeal of the new sedan

For a lot of automobiles that make a grand entrance into the marketplace, the novelty of being new begins to wear off some after you start seeing more of the vehicles on the road.

Some of the very high-end luxury or super exotic cars seem to keep us gawking well beyond their introduction, often more out of the idea of what it cost than the design.

When it comes to a lot of new automobiles the idea of accessibility often taints the appeal of a car, especially in the luxury segment.

Not the case with the new Audi A7.

Nearly a year after the vehicle was first launched in the U.S., the sedan is still turning heads — and with good reason.

THE VIEW

Positioned in between the A6 and the Audi’s flagship A8, the A7 encompasses many of Audi’s design elements in a new form distinguishing it from just about every other vehicle on the road.

Designed with a coupe-like silhouette, the A7 is distinguished by its low roofline and integrated rear doors with frameless door windows and side mirrors mounted on the doors.

Other key design elements include the sharp tornado line which begins at the headlights, extends across the fenders, over the doors and terminates in a gentle slope toward the tail lights, paying homage to the 1969 Audi 100 Coupé S.

The face of the A7 features Audi’s signature single frame grille is contoured at the leading with a chrome surround framing high-gloss black lattices with chrome accents.

The signature LED daytime running lights are standard and the tail lamps are fitted with LED lamps as well.

An integrated spoiler automatically extends at 80 mph and then retracts at 50 mph. It can also be deployed and retracted manually via the push of a button. The rear of the A7 is also distinguished by two large, round chrome tailpipes that extend from the dual-branch exhaust system.

Simply put, even in a sea of luxury vehicles the A7 is hard to miss from any view.

THE RIDE

Then there’s the A7’s V6, which at 310 hp and 325 lb-ft. of torque gives you a nice sense of power when behind the wheel.

Inside, the A7 features what’s called a “wraparound” design which incorporates a horizontal line encircling the driver and front passenger that starts above the instrument panel and ends in the passenger-side door.

The center console is oriented toward the driver to further enhance the driver focus of the interior. Other key exterior design elements include chrome bezels frame the air vents, while aluminum-look trim accents the optional layered wood veneers and bezels.

Technology features include the latest version of Audi MMI Plus with an eight-inch display that rises from the dashboard when the ignition is switched on enabling the driver to operate audio, navigation and telephone functions with the stroke of a finger. The transition from dash to display is so quiet and seamless that if you’re not watching you’ll miss it.

THE ANALYSIS

Even more impressive is that the Audi A7 has a base price of under $60,000, which is much less than what you’d expect to pay considering how much car you get for the money.

In fact, maybe that’s what makes the A7 most appealing.

Marcus Amick is an automotive lifestyle writer and consultant. He can be contacted at Marcus@WheelSide.com.